A Girl...

Abed

Talk shows, soup, a purring furbag, and a meme from Sam. I'm sick at home but on the road to recovery.

1. Do you try to look hot when you go to the grocery store just in case someone recognizes you from your blog?

I've not been recognized from my blog thus far, but even if I were all that, I still don't think I could pull off all-hot-all-the-time-just-in-case. I generally try to look somewhat respectable, but I'll go out un-made-up and even unshowered if I have to. There's only one person I'm trying to impress, and he has this habit of telling me I look ravishing when I've just rolled out of bed.

2. Are the photos you post Photoshopped or otherwise altered?

Sure. Contrast, sharpness, sometimes color needs to be adjusted. As for Photoshopping myself to look better? I'll just as soon not post the unflattering ones.

3. Do you like it when creeps or dorks e-mail you?

I've only had a few creepy emails, and I try not to let them bother me too much. Usually those types of people are looking for someone to engage in their little game, so if they get nothing back from me, they usually just move on.

4. Do you lie in your blog?

No lying, but I do sometimes apply the rules of "creative nonfiction," i.e., tweaking timelines or editing conversations for greater punch. (For instance, the inagural disco whiskey shower didn't include the Barbasol bikini. That actually happened a few days later.) Also, as much as I want this to be an open forum for my thoughts, there are a lot of things I've kept to myself out of respect for other people involved. It's a tightrope walk, this blogging thing, and I'm trying to do good by people in addition to having my say. But oh, the drama I wish I could share with you!

5. Are you passive-aggressive in your blog?

No way.

6. Do you ever threaten to quit writing so people will tell you not to stop?

Nope. Is that really why people do that? Why play the passive-aggressive game when it's just so much more effective to come out and tell people what you want? Fear of rejection? Pride? Yeesh.

7. Are you in therapy? If not, should you be? If so, is it helping?

Nope. I like to think I have an overdeveloped sense of self and can solve most of my problems by myself. If things ever got to be too much, though, I wouldn't hesitate to get some help. I've seen it work.

8. Do you delete mean comments? Do you fake nice ones?

As far as I can remember, I've only ever deleted one comment. Long story, fragile hearts, yadda yadda, big can o' worms. As for the nice comments, y'all are wonderful and I couldn't hope for more.

9. Have you ever rubbed one out while reading a blog?

Wow...um...no?

10. If your readers knew you in person, would they like you more or like you less?

Interesting question. I think my blog is a pretty accurate representation of my thought-life, but I don't know how well it captures my personality. I'm kind of a..."force," and some people are put off by it. In real life, men seem to "get" me more than women, so it's been surprising and flattering that I've attracted such a great bunch of female readers. I'd like to think we could all be friends in real life, although that's probably overestimating my ability to fully participate in all the girl-girl stuff you ladies do so naturally.

11. Do you have a job?

Sure do. Dream job. Love it, love it, love it.

12. If someone offered you a decent salary to blog full-time without restrictions, would you do it?

I don't know. I can't imagine having enough to write about, and I really do love my job enough that if I won the lottery today I'd go back to work tomorrow. Some people can write, and some are writers; I'd like to leave the full-time blogging to the truly talented, thank you.

13. Which bloggers do you want to meet in real life?

I'm lucky to have already met some of my favorite bloggers, and even though those meetings went swimmingly, I'd still be wary about actually hooking up with more internet people. What if Kristin is totally dull and T-bone smells funny and Krissa is downright mean? What if HJ isn't the least bit witty or crafty or gorgeous? So many bubbles I'd rather not burst.

14. Which bloggers have you made out with? (a)In real life? (b)In fantasy?

(a) Zero! (Simon and I are saving ourselves for marriage.)
(b) Too many to mention. Ha!

15. Do you usually act like you have more money or less money than you really have?

I don't really think about money. I earn steadily, spend wisely, and find that the best things in life are free. Awww.

16. Does your family read your blog?

Yes, even though some of them aren't supposed to. I'll stop there to avoid opening any wounds.

17. How old is your blog?

I started blogging in July of 2003. This baby was born in November of that same year.

18. Do you get more than 1000 page views per day? Do you care?

My stats program is really weird and confusing, so it's hard to say how many legitimate hits I get. Unless there's an army of you out there reading but not commenting, I think I'm a long way from 1,000. Do I care? Yeah, I do. I love getting comments from people and love discovering my site linked in the sidebars of strangers. There are so many things out there on the internet, I'm constantly flattered that you save a little slice of your day for me.

19. Do you have another secret blog in which you write about being depressed, slutty, or a liar?

I posted a handful of entries to a secret blog when I was going through some stuff, but it was shortlived (the blog, not the stuff) and now I can't even remember the name of the site.

20. Have you ever given another blogger money for his/her writing?

I've donated to Dooce and sent gifts to blog buddies. It's a nice feeling.

21. Do you report the money you earn from your blog on your taxes?

I know you don't have to report freelance income under $600, and I can't ever imagine making more than that off of this little old thing. The minute this puppy starts bringing in cash is the minute I start putting more effort into it.

22. Is blogging narcissistic?

Personal blogs? Absolutely. Especially those of us who post pictures of ourselves and our super hot boyfriends.

23. Do you feel guilty when you don't post for a long time?

Yes. I click around your blogs all day despairing over the lack of updates, and that ultimately leads to feeling guilty about my own slacktasticness. I do what I can, when I can, and sometimes that's the best I can do.

24. Do you like John Mayer?

From what I've seen of him, yes. Boy + guitar = yum. I'm a sucker.

25. Do you have enemies?

Most definitely. These aren't people I hate, but people who hate me. Some have reasons, some don't. I try to do right by people, but shit happens, you know?

26. Are you lonely?

Thank god no.

27. Why bother?

It's all there is. Might as well throw yourself in head first, right?

Posted by Leah at October 26, 2005 03:20 PM